“Something happened last night.” Ophelia said as they watched Saturday morning cartoons on the TV in Sera’s room. She was twisting the ice bracelet on ger wrist as she spoke. The other girls turned and looked at her.

“Huh?” Sera said. “What do you mean?”

“In my dreams… well I think I was asleep, but it wasn’t really a dream.” Ophelia shook her head in confusion. “It’s hard to explain but Alsia spoke to me while I was asleep.”

“Hmm, dreamspeaking.” Kira cocked her head thoughtfully. “It’s certainly possible, but are you sure that it wasn’t a dream? With everything that’s happened I’d be amazed if it wasn’t leaking into you dreams.”

“I’m sure,” Ophelia said. “I know my dreams well enough to know when they aren’t mine. Plus she left me something, so that I’d have proof.” She held her wrist out to show them the bracelet.

“Ooh!” That’s really pretty!” Sera reached out and stroked a finger across it. “But how did I miss seeing this until you showed it to us? Is it hidden somehow?”

“It is.” Kira alsoo stroked a finger across it. “I missed it too. There’s an interesting ward woven into it to hide it from casual observers and prying eyes.” She paused. “And Sera right – it is a pretty thing. But I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve seen something like it before. “Her eyes lost focus as she tried to chase the memory down befre shaking her head. “No, can’t place it.” She looked up at Ophelia. “So what did she have to say for herself?”

“Apparently, she wants to negotiate,” Ophelia said.

“Eh!” Kira blinked several times. “She wants to what?”

“Negotiate,” Ophelia said. “She says she’s been trying to open lines through your grandmother’s other son.”

“Is that why Kylissan-alran has been visiting more often?” Kira said. “My uncle,” she added before Ophelia could ask. “He’s been here quite often recently, but whatever it’s about he’s only been talking to gran. I thought it was just about this mess. What else did she say.”

“Not much that made sense.” Ophelia described the whole conversation. When she finished Kira looked baffled.

“That’s different,” she said. “I have no idea what she was talking about. We’ll tell my father and gran. Maybe they’ll be able too make sense of it.” She scowled back at the bracelet on Ophelia’s wrist. “Where have I seen one of those before?” It was obviously bothering her.

“Does it really matter that much,” Ophelia asked.

“Yes,” Kira said firmly. “I think that it does. I have a feeling that it means something rather than just being proof of what happened.”

“And you think it’s important?” Ophelia asked.

“Yes, I do.” Kira nodded. “And I’m sure if I could figure out where I’d seen it I would be able to figure out what it’s for.”

“Maybe your father will know,” Sera said.

Kira scowled at the bracelet a moment longer before nodding. “We’ll ask him this afternoon.”